# Community Building Tour

Part of the Architecture Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/architecture/guide/index.md)

*1. Exploring Your Community*

> **1a.** Tour your community and list the types of buildings you see. Try to identify buildings that can be associated with a specific period of history or style of architecture. Make a sketch of the building you most admire.

## Getting Started on Your Tour

This requirement is your chance to become an architectural detective. You are going to walk through your community — your town, your neighborhood, your downtown — and really *look* at the buildings around you. Not just glance at them, but study them. What shapes do you see? What materials were used? How old does the building look?

Before you head out, grab a notebook (or your phone for notes), a pencil, and a sketchbook. You will want to record what you find.

> **Tip**
>
> Bring a camera or phone to photograph buildings during your tour. Photos help you remember details when you sit down to sketch later, and they are great references when discussing your findings with your merit badge counselor.

## Common Architectural Styles in America

As you walk through your community, try to match buildings to these common architectural styles. You do not need to memorize every detail — just look for the key features that set each style apart.

### Colonial (1600s–1700s)

Colonial buildings are symmetrical with a centered front door. They typically have evenly spaced windows, a simple rectangular shape, and a side-gabled roof. Many colonial homes are made of brick or wood clapboard. You will often find this style in the eastern United States.

### Victorian (1860s–1900s)

Victorian buildings are hard to miss. They feature ornate decorations, colorful paint, steep roofs, towers or turrets, and wrap-around porches. The Queen Anne style — with its mix of textures, patterns, and asymmetric shapes — is one of the most recognizable Victorian styles.

### Craftsman / Bungalow (1900s–1930s)

Craftsman homes are cozy and low to the ground. Look for wide front porches with thick, tapered columns, exposed rafters under the eaves, and natural materials like stone and wood. This style celebrates handcraftsmanship over factory-produced details.

### Art Deco (1920s–1930s)

Art Deco buildings are bold and geometric. They feature sharp lines, zigzag patterns, sunburst motifs, and metallic accents. You will often find Art Deco in older downtown areas — think movie theaters, banks, and office buildings from the Jazz Age.

### Mid-Century Modern (1940s–1960s)

Mid-Century Modern buildings embrace simplicity and connection to nature. Look for flat or low-sloped roofs, large glass windows, open floor plans, and clean lines. Many schools and public buildings from this era use this style.

### Contemporary / Modern

Contemporary architecture uses the latest materials and technology. Glass curtain walls, unusual shapes, cantilevered sections, and green roofs are common features. If a building looks like nothing else around it, it may be contemporary.

![A visual guide showing six different architectural styles side by side: Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, and Contemporary, with labels and key features highlighted](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/architecture/guide/architectural-styles-guide?v=d33716fe)

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Many buildings are not pure examples of one style — they mix elements from different eras. A Victorian house might have a Colonial-era addition, or a Mid-Century Modern school might have a contemporary wing. Architects call this "eclectic" design.

## What to Look For on Your Tour

When you stand in front of a building, ask yourself these questions:

**Building Observation Checklist** — Questions to answer for each building you study

- [ ] What shape is the building? Rectangular, L-shaped, circular, irregular?
- [ ] What materials do you see? Brick, wood, stone, glass, steel, concrete?
- [ ] How is the roof shaped? Flat, gabled, hipped, domed?
- [ ] What do the windows look like? Large or small? Arched or rectangular? Grouped or evenly spaced?
- [ ] Are there decorative elements? Columns, carvings, trim, patterns?
- [ ] What period does the building seem to come from?
- [ ] What is the building used for? Does the design match its purpose?

## Making Your Sketch

For the sketch portion, pick the building you admire most. It does not have to be the biggest or oldest — choose one that catches your eye.

Your sketch does not need to be museum-quality. Focus on capturing the building's overall shape, proportions, and key features. Here are some tips:

> **Tip**
>
> Start with the basic outline — the overall shape of the building. Then add major features like the roofline, windows, and doors. Save details like decorative trim and textures for last. Lightly sketch in pencil first so you can adjust proportions before committing.

[Architectural Styles Visual Guide — ThoughtCo](https://www.thoughtco.com/architecture-4133010): An illustrated guide to major architectural styles throughout history, with photos and key features to help you identify buildings in your community.

![A Scout sitting on a park bench sketching a historic building in their sketchbook, with the building visible in the background](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/architecture/guide/scout-sketching-building?v=1fc89cfa)

## Beyond the Basics

As you explore, pay attention to how buildings relate to each other. Are there clusters of similar styles? That often means a neighborhood was built during the same time period. Do you see a very old building surrounded by newer ones? That building may have historical significance that saved it from demolition.

> **Be Prepared! What If You Can't Identify a Style?**
>
> Not every building fits neatly into a category, and that is perfectly fine.
> - **Write down what you see.** Describe the materials, shapes, and details in your own words.
> - **Take a photo.** You can research the style later using your photo as a reference.
> - **Ask around.** A local historical society or library may have information about older buildings in your area.
> - **Check the cornerstone.** Many public and commercial buildings have a cornerstone engraved with the year they were built — look near the base of the building.

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Now that you have explored your community's buildings, it is time to zoom out and look at architecture on a grander scale.

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- Previous: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/architecture/guide/index.md)
- Next: [Historical Achievement](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/architecture/guide/req1b/index.md)